Fantasy football advice, Week 17: Who to start/sit for Seahawks vs. Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have an outside shot remaining with home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs, needing a win over the Seattle Seahawks Sunday and a loss by the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have locked up a Wild Card spot, but their seeding could change depending on what happens in their game Sunday and the Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers nightcap.

Seattle will be without running back Marshawn Lynch and tight end Luke Willson Sunday. For Arizona, quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Andre Ellington and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald should all be fine for Sunday. Wide receiver Michael Floyd is tentatively expected to play as well, though he's more of a game-time decision and isn't locked in.

Start ‘em: In the season's first nine games, Russell Wilson topped 18 fantasy points exactly once. Since then, that's been his floor, averaging 27.7 fantasy points a game in that time. ... No one's been better than Doug Baldwin lately; he's averaged 24.4. fantasy points a game over his last five. ... This game features two elite defenses against two very good offenses. It's a good test of what stops what, but either way, if you have the Seahawks' defense, you're probably using it.

Start ‘em?: There's big upside for Tyler Lockett, but he has a low floor as well. He's a dicey flex play. ... Steven Hauschka's fantasy performance has fallen off in a big way in the season's second half.

Sit ‘em: There's nothing going on in the Seattle running game right now. You can safely avoid Christine Michael, Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown. ... With Jimmy Graham on injured reserve and Luke Willson out with a concussion this week, the Seahawks will turn to the don't-use-in-fantasy duo of Cooper Helfet and Chase Coffman at tight end this week.

Start ‘em: His numbers haven't been quite as great lately, but still, Carson Palmer has at least 14 fantasy points in every single game this season, and he can safely be put in every single fantasy lineup. ... David Johnson, even against Seattle, has proven himself enough that you're using him no matter what; he's averaged 21.5 fantasy points a game in his last four. ... Chandler Catanzaro still hasn't put up fewer than six fantasy points in a game all season, and he has at least eight in eight straight games. ... See the above note about the Seattle defense; the same applies for the Cardinals' defense.

Start ‘em?: Another week and the story remains the same: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Michael Floyd form maybe the league's best 1-2-3 at wide receiver, but good luck guessing which one or ones does the best each week.

Sit ‘em: The emergence of Johnson makes Andre Ellington only a depth play; he's not worth much in fantasy. ... Darren Fells has 14 fantasy points in his last three games, which is simultaneously pretty underwhelming and yet still decent for tight ends. You aren't using him, but he is underrated at the position.

Start in every league: Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Seattle defense, Carson Palmer, David Johnson, Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona defense
Start if you're desperate: Tyler Lockett, Steven Hauschka, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Michael Floyd
Bench: Christine Michael, Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown, Cooper Helfet, Chase Coffman, Andre Ellington, Darren Fells